Monthly Report: September

 London GAA Coaching & Games Development Monthly Report   

Month: September

The 6th Annual Tara J Ffrench Tournament A Success Yet Again 

The 6th edition of the Tara J Ffrench ladies tournament was yet another resounding success and teams from throughout London, Britain and Ireland took part. London were represented by North London Shamrocks, St Kiernan’s, Parnell’s, St Clarets, TCG Gael Londain and hosts Tara. Hertfordshire had the Claddagh Gaels and St Joesph’s in attendance. Dunedon made the trip down from Scotland while St James made the trip from Galway for the weekend of football. With nearly 250 girls playing football in a sunny Greenford the following were the victors on the day. 

U12 Cup- TCG 

U12 Shield- St Kiernan’s 

U12 Plate- North London Shamrocks 

U14 Cup- TCG 

U14 Shield- Tara 

U14 Plate- Dunedon 

U16 Cup- TCG 

U16 Shield Claddagh Gaels 

U18 Cup St James Galway. 

Tommy Harrell Memorial Tournament Goes From Strength to Strength  

Sunday the 8th of September saw the Fr. Murphy’s hosting their youth hurling blitz for 2019. Girls and Boys from the ages of 4 to 15 took part throughout the day. London as a hole can be proud of the work being done at underage level as the standard and the love of the game is drastically rising. With our 4 youth club being represented and the arrival of John Mitchells of Birmingham each team was guaranteed good quality game time. A special mention also has to go to the success of Granuaile who only reformed in May and produced excellent skills on the day. The formidable Kilburn Gaels ruled supreme in the U11 Deirdre Harrell memorial cup after a passionate and gutsy performance against John Mitchells. Credit to John Mitchells as the fought to the bitter end only taking a last minute strike from Kilburn to win it. 

In the U14 Sean Diviney trophy, the Fr Murphy’s continued their impressive run, after defeating Thomas McCurtain’s in this year’s ABC the guys backed this up with success in their own backyard. After defeating all before them once more the Murphy’s lifted the cup aloft. 

Regardless of the winners and losers on the day, hurling was the true champion as over 150 kids were out playing and showing off their skills. 2019 was the year for the hurlers as the game as gone from strength to strength and this is down to each clubs hard work. 

Parnells welcome Ballypooreen 

The Parnell’s welcomed over Ballypooreen/ Skeheenarinky Juvenile to their base in Harrow Rugby club. On the Friday night the Fr. Murphy’s U14 played the Tipperary side in a challenge game with the Tipp side coming out on top. On the Saturday, the Tipperary outfit played against a host of our sides. Parnells, St Kiernan’s, Taras, TCG and NLS while Sean McDermotts travelled from Birmingham. After an evening and morning of Gaelic Games there was refreshments in the club house as all mingled before the All Ireland Football Final. 

On the day the clubs battled it out for the Conrad Ryan Cup, Nora Togher Plate, and the Gerry Somers Memorial Shield. The girls battled it out for the Brendan Lynch memorial cup. Great work done by the club as they remembered their members. 

Schools Coaching Returns In The Capital

 The London GAA schools coaching programme resumed this September as schools returned from their summer breaks. Both primary schools and secondary schools have taken up this option. The schools coaching programme is crucial to our club development and a massive well done to clubs and schools who have maintained and strengthened these links. There will be two blitzes this October: 

Year 7/8 – 16th October 2019 

Year 6 – 17th October 2019 

London at the Double in the All Britain Championships 

London retained their titles in this year’s U15 and U17 All Britain Championships. North London overcame Hertfordshire in the early throw in. Our near rivals had our guys on the ropes but too their reputation they bounced back up and took control. The majority of the side were members of last year’s feile winning side and too their pedigree they drove on and won 5-14 to 3-12. A great performance by both sides show the level of hard work and talented coaching going on in both counties. 

In the U17 decider, London took on the talented Warwickshire side. These sides had battled it out earlier in the year as the opener before the London Galway game with the London side coming out comfortable winners. From the moment the Birmingham boys landed in Ruislip there was a feeling around the ground that the game wouldn’t go quite the same. After the opening exchange’s the London lads took over and started to show us their free flowing football that we are use too. Tactical astute and sharp shooting forwards they had too much for the travelling opposition. They ran out 9-08 to 1-14. Their performance sums up the old anecdote ‘Goals win Matches’.

Claregalway Visit London

Claregalway visited Ruislip and played both North and South London in an U14 international tournament. Claregalway hosted our South London Feile team this year as our guys reached the Division 1 final. In the group stages Claregalway beat South London as North London defeated South London and the final was set. Claregalway dominated from start to finish and lifted the Trophy. It was great to see the bond between all three teams as the players have made friendships for life through the game they love.

Winter Coaching and Safeguarding Courses 

London GAA will be running two Coaching Courses for our members in the coming weeks: 

 Firstly, there will be a Foundation Level Gaelic Football and Hurling (Dual) Coaching Course on Saturday, November 2nd in McGovern Park, Ruislip (HA4 6QX). @ 1 pm 

 We will also be running a Level One Gaelic Football Coaching Course over two weekends: November 22/23/24th, December 6/7th - both of which will also be at our McGovern Park headquarters in Ruislip. 

As well as the coaching courses, we are organising Safeguarding Courses for all of our youth coaches/mentors/administrators involved within London GAA on: 

 Friday, November 1st @ 7.00 p.m.  Saturday, November 2nd @ 9:00a.m. Under the guidelines from the Provincial Council of Britain GAA, anyone involved with teams that have players under the age of 18 must be DBS certified, complete a Coaching Course and, also, a Safeguarding Course.  

There will be a zero-tolerance policy on this from the London County Board and the Provincial Council going forward. 

LONDON GAA YOUTH CLUB DIRECTORY: 

DULWICH HARPS (F) – St.Paul’s Academy, Finchale Road, Abbey Wood SE2 9PX Contact: Pat Winston – 07734250375 

FATHER MURPHYS (H)- Berkeley Avenue, Greenford Avenue, Middlesex UB6ONZ Contact: Martin Harrell – 07960503355 

GAEL LONDAIN (F)- Hazelwood, Hazelwood Drive, Sunbury-On-Thames TW16 6QU Contact: Richard Bartley – 07875958912 

KILBURN GAELS (H) – Gladstone Park, Anson Road, London NW2 6BH Contact: Thomas Kilkenny – 07754455715 

NORTH LONDON SHAMROCKS (F) – Tottenhall Sportsground, Tottenhall Rd N13 6LH Contact: Liam Shine 07921637607 

PARNELLS (F) – Northwick Park, Wembley HA0 3TQ Contact: Colin McGuinness 07779 340398  

ROUND TOWERS (F) – Mitcham and Carshalton RFC, Peterborough Rd, Sutton SM5 1EE Contact: John McDonagh – 07759695617 

ST. ANTHONYS (F) – King’s Meadow Park, Reading RG1 8DF Contact: Bart Ballantine 07592673458 

ST. CLARETS (F) – Hayes Rugby Club, Kinghill Ave. Hayes, Middlesex UB4 8BZ Contact: Tadgh Lee – 07534802951 

ST. JOSEPHS (F) - Boston Manor Playing Fields, Boston Gardens, Brentford TW8 9LR Contact: Derek Dunne - 07527711759 

ST. KIERNANS (F) – Hendon Rugby Club, Greenlands Lane, London NW4RL Contact: Declan Ryan – 07818023639 

TARA (F) – Sudbury Court, East Lane, Wembley HA0 3LE Contact: Brendan Gallagher – 07971650506 

THOMAS McCURTAINS (F & H) – Goodmayes, Medici Close, Ilford IG3 8FE Contact: Martin McGovern - 07807830556 

TIR CHONAILL GAELS (F) – Berkeley Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 0NZ Contact: Joel McInern – 07956103723 

Yours in sport,  

London GAA Coaching and Games’ Development Office 

Contact us: 

 Email:  cda.london@gaa.ie Website:  http://londongaa.org/  Twitter:  @LONDAINGAA 

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